Downing Street confirmed on 9 January 2026 that The King approved the appointment of Josh Simons MP as a Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He will remain Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, according to the official notice. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-9-january-2026))
Simons has served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office since 7 September 2025 and represents Makerfield, elected in July 2024. The Cabinet Office sets out his responsibilities as inquiries policy, delivery of infected blood compensation, public service reform, counter‑fraud and sponsorship of the UK Statistics Authority, noting he is covering for Satvir Kaur MP during maternity leave. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/people/josh-simons))
DSIT states that its role is to position the UK at the forefront of science and technology, drive innovation that supports economic growth, and ensure technologies are developed and deployed safely. The department also lists research and development funding and advancing modern digital government among its priorities. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology/about))
DSIT is led by the Secretary of State, Liz Kendall MP, appointed on 5 September 2025. Junior ministers operate under this structure with defined portfolios that are confirmed on GOV.UK role pages. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-science-innovation-and-technology))
Current DSIT junior roles include the Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Online Safety), held by Kanishka Narayan MP, whose brief covers the AI Safety Institute, semiconductors and online safety; and the Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State (Minister for the Digital Economy), held by Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE, spanning cyber, telecoms, space and the Regulatory Innovation Office. Minister of State Lord Vallance leads on science and research across DSIT and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state-minister-for-ai-and-online-safety?utm_source=openai))
Policy Wire analysis: combining a DSIT junior brief with the Cabinet Office Parliamentary Secretary role brings a single minister across digital government aims and centre‑of‑government delivery on inquiries, fraud and data stewardship. For officials and stakeholders, this may streamline engagement where programmes depend on both DSIT policy and Cabinet Office coordination.
Immediate operational changes are limited. Stakeholders should continue to use existing departmental channels while awaiting confirmation of the precise DSIT portfolio for Simons, which is typically published via ministerial role pages and subsequent announcements on GOV.UK.